Weekly round-up

In a hectic week of price cuts, the aviation industry awoke from its February slumber as a number of high-profile airlines offered consumers dramatic discounts on fares.

Passengers wishing to travel across the Atlantic were specifically targeted with both Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic offering huge price reductions on their services.

Special offers

KLM unveils cheap European flights

KLM has discounted fares on a number of its European schedules from London Heathrow Airport.

SAS unveils Stockholm offer

Scandinavian Air Systems (SAS) is offering passengers flying to Stockholm from the UK a free city card worth £30.

Virgin offers New York special

Book by 10pm March 4, 2009: Virgin Atlantic is offering passengers the opportunity to travel from the UK to New York's Newark Airport for just £225.

The British carrier has applied this discount to economy services departing the UK from February 27 to May 31, 2009 - though flights scheduled between April 2 and 10 are not applicable.

Ryanair ponders toilet fee

Ryanair is considering charging passengers £1 to use toilets on-board its flights. The dramatic cost-cutting exercise was suggested by the low-cost airline's chief executive earlier today (February 27), who insisted that it would not inconvenience travellers.

Michael O'Leary claimed that Ryanair was determined to make air travel more affordable and that this could lead to the budget carrier introducing coin slots on lavatory cubicle doors.

SAA and Virgin announce codeshare deal

Virgin Atlantic has announced the extension of a codeshare agreement with South African Airlines (SAA), which will offer its passengers more flight flexibility and choice.

The deal will enable travellers booking with SAA to travel on Virgin Atlantic schedules between London Heathrow Airport and Cape Town, while also allowing Virgin customers to connect to SAA's inter-African services.

EasyJet unveils five-day sale

Book by 12pm March 3, 2009: EasyJet has unveiled a five-day sale that is reducing the fares on every one of its routes by 25 per cent.

The budget airline is dropping its prices for schedules departing between March 25 and June 30, 2009, as it seeks to tempt passengers into pre-booking their summer getaways.

Etihad offers Middle East discounts

Book by March 2, 2009: Etihad Airways has reduced return fares on four of its key routes from London Heathrow Airport.

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates is offering passengers travelling between February 27 and June 15, 2009 the opportunity to visit the Middle East from as little as £251.

Excluding departures between April 2 and 20, 2009, the offer allows customers a maximum stay of six months and a minimum period before returning of three days.

Aviation future up in the air

As campaign groups, governments and passenger bodies renew their calls for airlines to reduce their environmental impact, what does the future hold for the industry?

Emissions from aviation currently account for six per cent of the UK's total carbon output; a figure that the WWF has suggested could rise to more than 50 per cent by 2050 if growth continues at its current rate.

This has led many voices in the transport sector to urge the government to forgo the intended expansion of London Heathrow Airport and instead improve the UK's rail network.

Yet, the Campaign for Better Transport disclosed earlier this week that there is no incentive for passengers to switch from plane to train, as fares on rail journeys are so expensive.

Foreign Office issues Bangkok advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised passengers against "all but essential travel" to Thailand, amid growing political unrest in the south-east Asian country.

Updating its travel advice, the government department warned travellers that the situation in the country is "very uncertain" and that further demonstrations are likely.

Bmibaby offers discounted flights

Book by March 3, 2009: Bmibaby is offering passengers discounts on all of its services departing the UK until July 10, 2009.

The regional airline has reduced its return fares by £30 for flights leaving Birmingham International Airport, East Midlands Airport, Cardiff International Airport, Manchester Airport, Belfast Airport, Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

SkyEurope reduces spring fares

Book by March 1, 2009: SkyEurope Airlines has reduced more than 300,000 of its seats to a special price of just €33 (£30).

The Slovakian airline's one-way offer applies for travel throughout March, April and May 2009 and includes all taxes, fees and surcharges.

Flybe unveils tax-only offer

Book by March 4, 2009: Flybe has unveiled a major offer on flights departing the UK between April 1 and June 30, which allows passengers to only pay taxes and charges.

The regional airline has applied the offer on selected routes from a series of UK locations, including Southampton Airport, Birmingham International Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Cardiff Airport and Manchester Airport.

Monarch extends discount deal

Book by 12pm February 27, 2009: Monarch has extended an offer valid on its peak Easter and summer flights. The low-cost airline will discount £20 from all economy-class, return flights departing from the UK and Ireland that are booked online.

Valid only on scheduled services, the offer also applies to one-way flights - though the discount is reduced to £10. The price reductions cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion publicised by the carrier.

Bmi adds Kiev flights

Bmi has announced that it will begin operating flights to Ukraine's capital from March 29, 2009.

The regional airline, formally known as British Midland, has introduced the five times a week service to Kiev to its summer schedule.

Lufthansa offers Polish discounts

Book by January 31, 2010: To mark the commencement of its new service to Rzeszow next month, Lufthansa is discounting fares to seven destinations in Poland.

The world's fifth largest airline is offering discounts on its economy class return services departing five British airports for travel between March 18, 2009 and January 31, 2010.

Aer Lingus unveils US offers

Aer Lingus is offering British passengers the opportunity to cross the Atlantic from as little as £169 throughout March and April, 2009.

Ireland's flag carrier is offering discounts on one-way economy-class flights departing from a variety of locations throughout the UK to a number of US cities.

Passengers can take advantage of the offer from Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport, Manchester Airport, Birmingham Airport, London Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow Airport.

Swiss offers business discounts

Book by March 16, 2009: Swiss International Airlines has discounted business class fares from the UK to a number of exotic destinations.

The subsidiary of Lufthansa has reduced the prices for return services from London Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, Manchester Airport and Birmingham International Airport to locations in Asia, North America and Africa.

Beginning from just £745, the discounts take into account all taxes, fees and surcharges and apply on flights departing the UK before January 29, 2010. A selection of the routes included in this offer are listed below.

Passengers seek unconventional destinations

Travellers are becoming more "adventurous" in their choice of holiday destination, as locations throughout Africa and South America grow in popularity.

That is according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), which has suggested that British passengers are beginning to look beyond western Europe for their time off.

Thomas Cook announces luggage fee

Thomas Cook has announced changes to its baggage allowance fees, which could see passengers charged £30 to check-in a bag on a long-haul service.

From March 2 2009, the chartered airline will begin charging customers with flight-only bookings £8 each way on short haul services and £15 each way on long haul schedules for the privilege of taking luggage.

SAS unveils Stockholm offer

Scandinavian Air Systems (SAS) is offering passengers flying to Stockholm from the UK a free city card worth £30.

The multi-national airline for Denmark, Norway and Sweden will provide customers flying from London Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Manchester Airport to the continental location a complimentary Stockholm City Card.

Singapore reduces Manchester flights

Singapore Airlines has announced that it will reduce its services to Manchester Airport as part of a global initiative to lower its capacity.

The national carrier of Singapore will decrease its flights to the UK's north-west regional airport to three a week, which is down from the current five-weekly schedule.

KLM unveils cheap European flights

KLM has discounted fares on a number of its European schedules from London Heathrow Airport.

The national airline of the Netherlands has reduced the prices, which are inclusive of taxes and surcharges, for flights departing between March 29 and June 30, 2009.

Strictly subject to availability, passengers can stay for a maximum of one month and a minimum of three days in their selected destination.

Oneworld carriers relocate

Two prominent oneworld alliance airlines have announced that they will be moving their operations to London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3.

Iberia and British Airways will join existing members American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Finnair at the terminal on February 25, 2009, just before upgrades commence to bring it up to the same standard as Terminal 5.

BAA softens Stansted stance

BAA will place London Stansted Airport up for sale, after dropping its opposition to the competition watchdog's expected ruling.

The Ferrovial-owned operator will sell the regional aviation hub after the Competition Commission ruling, due in March, which is widely predicted to break up the group's dominance in the UK airport market.

Ryanair to close check-ins

Ryanair has detailed plans to close all of its airport check-in desks by 2010 and instead encourage passengers to use its online services.

The budget airline hopes to reduce costs in a difficult financial climate by prioritising internet check-ins and introducing bag drops, where customers will be able to drop off their luggage.

Weekly round-up

In a week of industry firsts, including Ryanair's introduction of mobile phone friendly aircraft, prominent airlines have not let up in their battle to help cash-strapped and destination-hungry passengers.

A series of carriers have unveiled short-term fare discounts and flight upgrades, while bmibaby has added to its already extensive international schedule.

Special offers

Aer Lingus unveils Irish offers

Aer Lingus is offering Irish passengers the opportunity to travel to the UK from as little as £9.99.

BA offers upgrades

British Airways is offering its passengers free upgrades and bonus BA Miles.

Cardiff Airport seeks govt funding

Cardiff Airport is in the final stages of securing "significant funding" for the extension of its passenger capacity.

That is according to The Western Mail, which reports that officials from the Welsh aviation hub have met with the Welsh Assembly, as it looks to rival Bristol International Airport as the region's premier international departure centre.

American Airlines unveils sale

Book by February 23, 2009: American Airlines has unveiled a four-day sale on a selection of its UK services to US cities.

The transatlantic carrier has discounted economy class, return fares on services departing the UK between February 20 and April 1 and April 6 and May 31, 2009.

Passengers flying from London Heathrow Airport have seven discounted routes to select from, while those customers living in the north-west of England can take advantage of reductions on six schedules from Manchester Airport.

Stansted extension faces six-year delay

BAA has warned that the planned opening date for its second runway at London Stansted Airport is now six years behind schedule.

The Ferrovial subsidiary, which also owns six other airports in the UK, has issued a letter detailing that the development of a second runway at the regional aviation hub will now be completed in 2017, which has been pushed back from its original target of 2011.

Bmi closes two domestic routes

Bmi has announced its decision to close its routes from the UK's capital to the north of England.

The regional airline will end flights from London Heathrow Airport to both Leeds Bradford Airport and Durham Tees Valley Airport on March 28, 2009.

Ryanair introduces mobile phones

Ryanair has become Europe's first airline to launch an in-flight mobile phone service across its fleet.

Passengers using the carrier will now be able to receive and send voice messages, text messages and emails on their mobile phones at 30,000 feet.

The cost of calls will vary between £1.50 and £2.60 per minute depending on international roaming rates, while text messages will be billed at 50 pence.

BAA faces 'crunch' time

BAA is facing a difficult couple of weeks as it prepares itself for the sale of London Gatwick Airport and a final ruling on its monopoly of British airports.

As the Competition Commission draws together its concluding judgements on whether the Ferrovial-owned operator should be forced to sell off more of its airports, bidding for the UK's second busiest aviation hub has stuttered.

Described by the monopoly regulator as unsatisfactory, BAA's current portfolio includes three airports in the south-east of England, one in the south-west and three in Scotland.

These include London Heathrow Airport, London Stansted Airport, Southampton Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow International Airport and Aberdeen Airport. Commenting on this 'assortment of riches', Jim Callaghan, Ryanair spokesman, told a Civil Aviation Authority earlier this month that the group does not have passenger interests at heart.

Carlisle airport 'close to sale'

An industry leading haulage firm is close to completing the purchase of Carlisle Airport, which could signal a major redevelopment of the regional hub.

Stobart Group is finishing an agreement requested by Carlisle city council, which verifies that it intends to perform a £25 million programme to improve the airport's runways and passenger terminal.

Jet2 unveils winter discounts

Book by March 31, 2009: Jet2 is offering would-be skiers and snowboarders the opportunity to travel to a number of European destinations from as little as £19.99 one-way.

The British low-cost carrier has unveiled the deal, which is eligible on travel until April 19, 2009 from a selection of UK destinations, including Edinburgh Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, Manchester Airport and Newcastle Airport.

Passengers can also benefit from reduced accommodation fees for visits to either Chambery or Geneva in the offer, thanks to an agreement made between Eurogroup Holidays and the budget airline entitling customers to a 15 per cent saving.

Ryanair cuts Liverpool flights

Ryanair has announced that it will be axing ten routes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Citing an increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) and the decline of the sterling, the budget carrier will no longer serve ten destinations from the regional airport, including Paris, Budapest, Valencia, Faro and Lodz.

Southend Airport development approved

Local councillors have given their permission for a £25 million development of London Southend Airport, which could establish the location as a regional aviation hub.

Funded by the transport group Stobart, which purchased the airport last year, the proposals include an extension of the existing runway that would increase its capacity to around two million passengers annually, the Essex Echo has reported.

Approved by both Rochford and Southend councils, four options were considered by local committee members - with the most ambitious major expansion chosen.

Aer Lingus unveils Irish offers

Aer Lingus is offering Irish passengers the opportunity to travel to the UK from as little as £9.99.

Ireland's flag carrier has disclosed that it will be offering customers reduced fares from Dublin International Airport and Cork Airport for travel up until March 31, 2009, on a selection of UK routes.

Commencing on March 29 and April 6, 2009 respectively, services from Shannon Airport to London Heathrow Airport and Knock to London Gatwick Airport will also be reduced once the schedules are underway.

BA offers upgrades

Book by March 31, 2009: British Airways is offering its passengers free upgrades and bonus BA Miles.

The British flag carrier will provide travellers that book full-fare Club return flights before the end of March a one-way upgrade across all of its classes.

Virgin extends Sydney discounts

Book by 10pm March 9, 2009: Virgin Atlantic has extended its offer on services to Sydney from London Heathrow Airport.

The British airline, which operates services to destinations worldwide, has applied discounts on both economy and premium economy flights to the Australian city for travel up until November 30, 2009.

Including all taxes, fees and surcharges, the return trip fares begin from just £615 and are strictly subject to availability. Once passengers have booked tickets for the services, cancellations are not permitted; however, data changes are allowed for a fee of £100.

Heathrow expansion won't affect 'service'

The proposed development of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport will not affect service standards, according to leading consumer aviation group.

Citing the examples of Paris and Amsterdam, the Air Transport Council (ATC) suggested that airports with greater passenger capacity do not necessarily have worse baggage handling and security processes than their smaller counterparts.

Escape the winter blues with summer bargains

Recession and bad weather combine to send sun seeking Brits to warmer pastures.

As snow, sleet and rain descend upon it, the UK swaps fleeces for flip-flops in search of bargain busting destinations according to Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK’s leading price comparison website where you search the most deals on the market.

Francesca Ecsery, General Manager for Cheapflights.co.uk says, “The initial excitement of snow was short lived as parts of the UK turned to slush while others iced over leaving many stranded or stuck at home.

This combined with the recession gloom and lingering post holiday blues has sent Brits trolling sunnier climes in search for quite literally, light at the end of an overcast tunnel.

So when it comes to turning the heat up on the temperatures but turning it down on your wallet, as consumer champion, we recommend you move away from the Eurozone tradition and set your sights on long and mid haul destinations instead.

Qantas increases London flights

Qantas will increase the number of services on its London Heathrow Airport to Sydney route from June 2009, Australia's flag carrier has revealed.

Following the delivery of an additional double-decker Airbus A380, the 'Flying Kangaroo' will continue to operate three services a week on its London schedule but from June it will be increased to five.

Public transport returns to Glasgow Airport

A £2 million project to increase security at Glasgow Airport has been completed, allowing public transport to re-enter Scotland's second busiest aviation hub.

Following the installation of 300 security bollards, the airport is once again open to vehicles, which is the first time this has occurred since the attempted terrorist attack in 2007.

Polls: Worst personal habits

 This poll has now closed

Personal space is a matter of priority for most people, but when we’re on a plane, comfort zone boundaries expand in the hope that discretion is practiced by other passengers out of respect for others.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case and lax manners can turn the journey into a nightmare. If you or someone you know has had a bad plane ride as a result of bad personal habit.

Vote now and share your thoughts on the worst habit you can think of.

3i quits Gatwick bidding

The private equity group 3i has quit the race to become the next owner of London Gatwick Airport, after struggling to raise the required capital.

Citing concerns over the price being asked, 3i Infrastructures has dropped out of the bidding for the UK's second busiest airport, leaving four consortiums left in the running.

Bmibaby increases Mediterranean services

Bmibaby has announced that it will commence a number of new flights to Mediterranean destinations from three of the UK's regional airports.

Passengers departing from Birmingham International Airport, Manchester Airport or East Midlands Airport will now have the option of boarding an extra 30 services a week during the peak summer months.

Passengers divided over Heathrow expansion

UK passengers are split over their support for the construction of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport.

That is according to a new poll conducted by the travel firm Holiday Extras, which disclosed that 49 per cent of the people questioned were in favour of the expansion of the UK's busiest airport, seeing it as "vital" to the expansion of the country's economy.

Manchester Airport receives green award

The Carbon Trust has awarded Manchester Airport a prestigious standard, which highlights its "commitment to the environment".

The north-west regional aviation hub, which has pledged to reduce its environmental impact, was honoured with the accolade by the climate change group for its carbon management and emissions decline.

Bmibaby reveals Newquay service

Bmibaby has announced that it will operate a summer service from Birmingham International Airport to Newquay Airport.

Scheduled to commence on May 22, 2009, the four-times-a-week service will fly on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until September 20, 2009.

Travellers must use or lose Airmiles

Passengers who have failed to collect any of their Airmiles over the past two years may have their accounts closed by the organisation.

The loyalty program, which has eight million customers in the UK, has distributed 1.7 million letters to customers threatening to end their affiliation if they do not use their existing miles or fail to assemble any new ones.

Heathrow expansion 'makes sense'

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has claimed that the proposed expansion of London Heathrow Airport "makes real sense".

Welcoming the government's decision to allow the construction of a third runway at the UK's busiest airport, which will increase its capacity to more than 700,000 flights annually, the organisation rejected claims that Britain's businesses did not want a bigger facility.